Presentation to Mr. F. B. Osborne (Headmaster)

A very pleasant ceremony took place at the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon when Mr. F. B. Osborne, the late headmaster of the Grammar School, was presented by a large body of subscribers representing old pupils, parents and friends, with a silver salver and a cheque for £40.

Dr Dewhurst occupied the chair and there was also present Col. & Mrs Paley, the Rev. W.J & Mrs Guerrier, the Rev. P. Lewis, Mr & Mrs S. B. Russell, Mrs Edge, Mrs Gubbins, Mrs & Miss Izod, Miss Makepeace, Mrs. Beckett, Mrs. Collett, Mr & Mrs F. Jones, Mr T. Ebborn, Capt. Carey Elwes, Mr. F. L. Griggs, Dr. & Mrs. Gillett, Mrs Coldicott, Mrs. F. Dunn, Mr & Mrs. W. N. Izod, Mr. R. H. Hands, Mrs Cameron, Mr & Mrs. Trinder, Mrs. C. Grove, Mr. G. T. Haines etc.

The chairman said he felt he ought to apologise for having usurped that position but he had two excuses, one was that he had known Mr. & Mrs. Osborne for nineteen years, and the other that he was the oldest member of the Board of Govenors.  The committee had asked Mr. Osborne what he would like and he had wisely said he would like something he could always have before him and the balance in cash. The result was that they had that handsome silver salver, designed and executed by Mr. G. H. Hart from a design by Gordon Russell. They owed a debt of gratitude to Mr. Gordon Russell for beautifully inscribing the names of the subscribers in a book. As they all knew Mr. Osborne was a man of strong views, and he did not care to be interfered with in his practical work, and for that they honoured him. They might look to that for the reason they were losing him after nearly a quarter of a century’s useful work in Campden. He would not stand interference in his own particular sphere.

He was sure everyone who knew Mrs. Osborne knew perfectly well that she had always looked after the boys in her house just as much as a mother would look after her own children. This had been the feeling among the subscribers, and so they were giving her a gold bangle that she could always wear.

Several parents spoke of Mr Osborne’s worth in teaching their sons while Major Walsh spoke on behalf of his wife; It gave her great pleasure to come and make the presentation. It was a very fitting thing that they should give expression to their great regard for Mr. & Mrs. Osborne, and to show appreciation of the excellent manner in which Mr. Osborne had conducted Campden Grammar School. He had devoted his great abilities in developing the mental, moral, and physical talents of the boys under him. The excellence of his educational methods spoke for themselves. The school had never possessed a a more painstaking, and conscientious headmaster than Mr. Osborne.

Mr Osborne replied at length (shortened here)  During the 24 years he had been in Campden  he had seen many changes in the school and work. Probably more important changes than had taken place in all the four hundred years of the school’s existence. He was engaged as an old-fashioned headmaster. The governing body met once a year on an Easter Tuesday and had then finished their work as far as the school was concerned till next year. Two years after he came the first new scheme came in and necessitated his re-election. There were many other changes but the greatest was the securing of the old disreputable public house known as the King’s Arms, which had proved a valuable addition in the shape of a laboratory, art room, & workshop.

Report of the presentation from the Parish Magazine, June 1913

An interesting gathering took place at the Town Hall on May 15th, when Mr. Osborne was the recipient of a testamonial subscribed for by over a hundred old pupils and friends, a considerable number of whom were present on this occasion to bid him and Mrs. Osborne good bye, on his vacating the post of headmaster of the Grammar School, and to wish him good luck in his new venture at Blockley.

Mrs Walsh made the presentation, which took the form of a silver salver and a purse of forty guineas.

The salver was made in Campden by Mr. G. Hart, and the inscription on it was engraved by Mr. W. Mark.  A small volume contained the names of the subscribers, and this was the work of Mr. G. Russell, of Broadway, who also designed the inscription on the salver.

An exceedingly popular part of the ceremony was the presentation to Mrs. Osborne of a gold chain bracelet, as a token of the affection and esteem in which she is held by all who have known her.